Chelsea hero Frank Lampard signs for New York City as he ponders England future

CITY BLUES: Frank Lampard has swapped Chelsea for the bright lights of New York City [GETTY ]

The 36-year-old signed on for New York City yesterday in a two-year £90,000-a-week deal which will see the former Chelsea ace line up alongside Spanish strike ace David Villa for the new MLS side.

But while he was delighted to seal his switch to the Big Apple he isn't so sure about following Steven Gerrard's lead and quitting international football.

With 103 caps in the bag and a dismal World Cup campaign in Brazil still fresh in the mind, it wouldn't have been a shock to hear he had called boss Roy Hodgson to say enough is enough.

Lampard though is undecided.

He said: "It was a bad tournament for us but I'll tell you what, I had a bit of a moment after the last game against Costa Rica.

"The reception we got off the fans - considering the way we'd played - it made me very proud to experience that.

"I'm going to make the decision very soon. I wanted to get this cleared up first. I've enjoyed my time with England. I'm too proud an Englishman to make a decision like this lightly.

"I have to be completely sure it's the right call for me. I'm going to take a view on it now. It's one of the things I want to do quickly - talk with my family.

"I have to think about what playing for England means to me. I know I have to decide soon because obviously the games start coming round soon enough.

"Whatever decision I make I will want to speak to the England manager first - let him know before anyone else."

With Ashley Cole bringing down the curtain on his international career before the shambles in Brazil and Gerrard announcing his decision to step down this week, it seems only natural Lampard would follow suit.

DECISION TIME: Lampard only played in England's dead rubber final group game against Costa Rica [GETTY ]

“I'm going to make the decision very soon”

Frank Lampard

"I didn't need to see them retire to know that the end will come for me at some stage, of course it will," said Lampard.

"You get to a point when you just know.

"We need young players to come through. I'm not silly. I know it can't go on forever.

"Every player knows when it's best for them. For some it's when they're 29 - others want to play as long as they can.

"People might have thought that the last game at the World Cup when I was captain that was going to be it but then I was vice captain and Stevie wasn't playing. If that turns out to be my last game I'll go out a very proud man."

With his new club not kicking off until next year, the Stamford Bridge legend will need somewhere to play for the next six months.

A move to Melbourne - who like New York are owned by Manchester City's powerbrokers - has already been ruled out while QPR and uncle Harry Redknapp have also shown interest.

Leaving his beloved Chelsea after 13 years was tough to take.

Lampard said: "I was aware before the World Cup that I was leaving Chelsea. I had a decision to make and I didn't want to make it during the World Cup - even though I was thinking about my future.

"There were other options, yes. Some in England, other parts of the world but this was the one that always stood out to me.

"The idea of coming to this city and playing for a new team with a really good vision for the future - it just made it easy for me. It wasn't a hard decision.

"We had some conversations about QPR and so did my dad. I think my dad spoke to Harry quite a lot. But it wasn't really an option for me.

"I had 13 years at Chelsea and it's something very dear to me so it would have been difficult to play for a club so close.

"So from that point of view coming out here to New York is a good option - it's a new start."

Lampard received a heroes welcome yesterday, and was keen to put the record straight about one of the most infamous moments of his career in 2001.

He was with a group of Chelsea team-mates accused of insulting American tourists in a London hotel just hours after the September 11 atrocity in New York.

"I categorically did not set out to insult anyone or behave badly in front of the Americans and this is an excellent chance to say that," he said.

"I'm very sensitive to the issue and the tragedy.

"I have some regrets. I was naive and a young boy at the time. I was out on a day I shouldn't have been. I certainly wouldn't do it today, put it that way.

"It's very important to pay respect. It's a huge memorial and I will certainly go there to pay my respects."